By Andi Anderson
The annual Iowa State Fair Weed Identification Contest is back this year on Friday, August 8, from 9 to 11:30 a.m., in front of the John Deere Agriculture Building. Supported by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and the ISU Department of Agronomy, this fun and educational event welcomes participants of all ages.
The contest offers a hands-on opportunity to identify real weed samples displayed in pots on a tabletop. Participants are tested on their ability to recognize commonly accepted names of Iowa weeds. Scientific names are not required, making it accessible to youth and beginners alike.
There are three contest levels to accommodate different age groups and experience:
- Future Agronomists (under 19) will identify 20 common Iowa weeds.
- General Participants will identify 30 weed species.
- Professionals will take on the challenge of identifying the same 30 plus five rarer, harder-to-identify Iowa weeds.
“We have a great variety of species planted this year, including common lawn and garden species that are easy for kids to identify and rarer weed species that are more difficult to identify,” said Meaghan Anderson, ISU Extension and Outreach field agronomist and contest organizer. “We invite all weed identification enthusiasts to see how their ID skills stack up against the best.”
The top five winners in each category will receive cash prizes and Iowa State Fair ribbons. The awards ceremony will take place at 3 p.m. in the John Deere Agriculture Building. Additionally, the weed display will remain open for viewing throughout the fair.
For more details, participants may contact Meaghan Anderson at mjanders@iastate.edu. This contest not only promotes agricultural education but also brings friendly competition to the fair.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-zoomtravels
Categories: Iowa, Crops, Corn, Soybeans